Speaking at the Riga Conference in Latvia on Saturday (19 October 2024), NATO Acting Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Boris Ruge, underlined the importance of Ukraine prevailing in its fight to retain its sovereignty and independence in the face of Russian aggression. Ambassador Ruge emphasised that, “Ukraine is on an irreversible path to membership, so it is not up for debate whether Ukraine will be a member of NATO.” He also stressed, “support to Ukraine is not charity, it’s about our strategic interests.”
The Acting Deputy Secretary General was part of a panel discussing “NATO’s 360-Degree Strategy and Strategic Partnerships.” He highlighted the meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels last week, where Allies committed to further support Ukraine, strengthen their ties with partners in the Indo-Pacific, and reinforce NATO’s deterrence and defence.
While in Riga, Ambassador Ruge also met with senior government officials, commending Latvia for their contributions to Allied security and their steadfast support to Ukraine.